Page 35

chapter

twenty-four

Jax had known the bullshit assault allegation wouldn’t stick, so he wasn’t surprised when Deputy Murdock grudgingly unlocked his cell at the end of the third day. But he was surprised when he walked out of the sheriff’s office and saw the men of Valor Ridge waiting in the parking lot.

River sat on the tailgate, dirty boots swinging.

Ghost stood like a statue, arms folded and sunglasses hiding whatever calculus went on behind those ice-gray eyes.

Bear, Anson, and Jonah, all there, waiting in a loose circle.

And X wolf-whistling as if being released from jail was worthy of a goddamn parade.

Jax’s gut tightened when he reached the bottom step and saw who they were all gathered around. Nessie, with her dark hair catching the breeze, was watching him with those warm brown eyes that saw too much.

His first instinct was to look away, to shield himself from whatever judgment she might pass. But he couldn’t tear his gaze from her face, couldn’t pretend he wasn’t drinking in the sight of her after three days of nothing but concrete and fluorescent lights.

The urge to run—away from her, toward her? Hell, he wasn’t sure which, but the urge nearly took his knees out. He settled for stuffing his hands in his pockets and stopping several feet away.

Nessie stepped forward, closing the distance between them. She didn’t say anything. Just moved into his space and hugged him, arms looping around his ribs, face pressed to his chest.

Jax froze. People didn’t touch him. Not unless they wanted to hurt, restrain, or humiliate.

She did none of those things. She just held on.

His hands hovered, not knowing where to go.

She was small, and warm, and she smelled like vanilla and cinnamon—the scent he’d caught himself thinking about during those endless hours in the cell.

He looked over her head at the others. River and X were grinning. Jonah bugged his eyes in a “c’mon, man” expression and made a hugging motion with his arms.

Right.

He put his hands on her back gently, barely touching, as if she might shatter beneath his fingers. Then, with her warmth seeping through his thin t-shirt, everything inside him cracked. He tightened his grip, one hand sliding up to cradle the back of her head as he pulled her closer.

Three days without seeing her face. Three days of wondering if she’d regretted standing up for him, if she’d come to her senses and realized what a mistake she’d made. Three days of expecting to be forgotten.

But she was here. Solid and real and holding onto him like he mattered.

“You okay?” she murmured against his chest.

He nodded, not trusting his voice. Not with the lump that had lodged itself in his throat.

“Alright, lovebirds,” River called, hopping down from the tailgate. “Let’s get the hell away from this place before Goodwin changes his mind.”

Jax reluctantly let his arms drop. Nessie stepped back, her cheeks flushed pink, but her eyes stayed locked on his. The morning sun caught the gold flecks in her irises, turning them to amber.

Christ, she was beautiful.

He turned away from her and focused on Ghost. “How’d you get them to let me go? My lawyer was useless.”

“Public pressure,” Ghost said. “Not to mention, the complete lack of evidence.”

“The whole town knows Murdock touched Nessie first,” River added, slinging an arm around Jax’s shoulders. “Even Goodwin couldn’t make assault charges stick when everyone saw his deputy grab her.”

The memory of Murdock’s meaty hand on her arm flashed through his mind, and his jaw clenched so hard his teeth ached. He looked at Nessie again, scanning her bare arms for any signs of bruising. “I never got the chance to ask if you’re okay. Did he hurt you?”

“I’m fine.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It was nothing.”

But the way her eyes slid away told him it wasn’t nothing.

“Come on,” Boone said, pushing off the hood of his truck. “Walker’s waiting.”

The mention of Walker sent a cold spike through Jax’s chest. The old man would be pissed. Three days in county lockup for a parole violation—even a bullshit one—was exactly the kind of trouble Walker had warned him to avoid.

“I’ll take him back,” Nessie said suddenly. “If that’s okay? I need to talk to him.”

Something passed between her and Boone, some silent communication that Jax couldn’t decipher.

Boone nodded once, then jerked his chin toward his truck. “Rest of you, load up. We got chores and we’re burning daylight.”

“But—” River started to protest, but Bear caught him by the collar and hauled him toward the truck.

“Let the man breathe,” Bear grumbled.

One by one, they climbed into vehicles. River gave him an exaggerated wink, X flashed a thumbs-up, Ghost nodded his silent approval. Even Anson clapped him on the shoulder as he passed.

And then it was just him and Nessie, standing in the shadow of the county jail.

“Your car here?” he asked, then cursed himself. Stupid question. It would be hard to miss the teal monstrosity in this small parking lot. Next he’ll be talking about the weather.

“No. I walked.” She glanced up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips. “It’s only a few blocks to my apartment, and I... I wanted some time with you.”

His heart kicked against his ribs. “Your apartment?”

“Yeah. I figured you might want a real shower. Real food.” She started walking, and he fell into step beside her. “Unless you’d rather go straight back to the ranch?”

“No.” The word came out too quickly. He cleared his throat. “No, that sounds good. Thanks.”

They walked in silence for a block, their shoulders occasionally brushing.

Main Street was quiet, just a few shopkeepers sweeping their sidewalks or watering their plants, the occasional car passing.

No one looked directly at him, but he felt their sidelong glances, heard the whispers that followed in their wake.

Murderer. Convict. Monster.

He’d heard worse.

“People are staring,” she said quietly.

“Let them.”

“Doesn’t it bother you?”

He shrugged. “Used to it.”

She frowned but didn’t push. Instead, she slipped her hand into his, lacing their fingers together. The gesture was so unexpected, so casually intimate, that he nearly stumbled.

“What are you doing?”

“Making a point.” Her chin lifted, defiant and beautiful. “I’m not ashamed to be seen with you.”

Emotion, hot and fierce, bloomed in his chest. Something he couldn’t quite name that felt dangerously close to hope. He tightened his grip on her hand, marveling at how small it felt in his, how delicate and strong all at once.

They continued past the bakery’s front door with its “closed” sign and turned off Main Street onto a quieter side road lined with maple trees. The morning air was cool and clean, carrying the scent of fresh-cut grass and distant pine. For the first time in three days, his lungs expanded fully.

“Oliver’s at school,” Nessie said as they approached the back of her building. “But he’s been asking about you nonstop. Wanted to make you another monster muffin.”

The mention of her son sent a complicated mix of emotions through him. Warmth, because the kid was something special. Fear, because he had no business being around children. Guilt, because he’d dragged them both into his mess.

“I told myself I’d stay away from him.” Jax swallowed hard and looked down at their clasped hands. “From you.”

Nessie stopped at the back door of her bakery and turned to face him fully, still holding his hand. “There you go making decisions for me again.”

His throat tightened. “You don’t know everything about me.”

“I know enough.”

Her words hung in the air between them, full of conviction he didn’t deserve.

She was so close now, close enough that he could count the freckles dusting her nose, see the tiny flecks of gold in her brown eyes.

Her hand was still in his, warm and steady, anchoring him to this moment when everything else felt like quicksand.

“You don’t,” he said, his voice rough. “The things I’ve done?—”

“I know about California.” She held his gaze, unflinching. “I know about Alexis Summers. I know you were sick, that you weren’t yourself.”

The air left his lungs in a rush. She knew. She’d looked him up, read the articles, seen the monster he truly was…

And she was still here.

Something broke loose inside him then, some tightly coiled restraint he’d been holding onto since the moment he first saw her on that road. Before he could think better of it, he cupped her face in his hands, his calloused fingers brushing gently against her skin.

Her breath caught, those expressive eyes widening, but she didn’t pull away. Instead, she swayed toward him, her lips parting slightly.

“Nessie,” he whispered, the name a prayer and a warning.

“Shut up and kiss me already,” she murmured.

That was all the invitation he needed. He lowered his head and pressed his mouth to hers, soft and hesitant at first, giving her every chance to change her mind. But she made a small sound in the back of her throat and rose on her tiptoes, her arms sliding around his neck as she deepened the kiss.

The taste of her was as sweet as her scent, and had heat rushing through his veins, coalescing in his cock. His hands slid into her hair, cradling her head as he angled his mouth over hers. Her lips were soft, so impossibly soft, and they moved against his with a hunger that matched his own.

This was dangerous. This was reckless. This was everything he’d told himself he couldn’t have.

He backed her against the bakery’s back door, careful not to crush her with his weight but needing to feel her against him.

She went willingly, her body arching into his, her fingers threading through his hair.

The small, breathy sounds she made drove him wild, made him forget everything but the feel of her in his arms.

Until a black SUV rolled slowly past.

Nessie jerked back, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen, and stared at the vehicle with wide, horrified eyes.

He glanced from her to the SUV, but it had already continued down the road, and he couldn’t see the driver. He did note the government plates, and dread clamped around his chest.

“What’s wrong?”

She shook her head. “Um, I forgot Oliver is getting out of school early today and I have to go get him.”

It was a flimsy excuse, but he didn’t call her on it. He nodded, already reaching for his phone. “I’ll call Boone. He can pick me up.”

She worried her lower lip with her teeth. “Jax, it’s not?—”

“No, it’s okay. I get it.” He backed away from her and pressed his phone to his ear, the rings sounding distant and tinny through the sudden rush of blood in his head. “I’m the kind of mistake that ruins lives. I don’t blame you.”

She reached for him. “Jax?—”

“Go get your son, Nessie.”

“Wait.” She caught his arm hard enough to spin him around and stood on her toes, crashing her mouth to his.

The kiss was desperate, almost wild, and over in seconds.

She pulled back, her eyes fierce. “It’s not what you think. I’ll explain everything later. I promise.”

Then she was gone, fumbling with her keys to unlock the door, slipping inside without looking back.

Jax stood frozen, lips still tingling from her kiss, mind reeling from the whiplash of emotions. One second she was melting against him, the next she was running like she’d seen a monster. And maybe she had—that black SUV with government plates could mean anything from FBI to Marshals.

Shit. Was she in some kind of trouble?

He scrubbed a hand over his face and started walking, his body on autopilot as his brain churned through possibilities.

The taste of her lingered on his lips, so sweet and addictive.

He’d never felt a connection like that before—like electricity arcing between them, raw and powerful.

And then that SUV had driven by, and fear had replaced desire in her eyes so quickly it made his head spin.

His phone buzzed in his hand.

“Problem?” Boone asked when he answered.

“Yeah, I need a ride.”

If Boone had questions, he didn’t voice them. “We’re still in town. Be there in five.”